The unfortunate news that Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine is set to miss an undisclosed amount of time is devastating for both fans and his teammates.
LaVine makes everyone’s life easier, whether it be his teammates on the court or the fans at home who at least get to watch an offensive monster go to work when the team is underperforming. Now, the Bulls will have to make drastic changes to their game plan for the next number of games before they know more or LaVine returns.
Simply put – It will not be easy.
Not only is Zach LaVine the team’s leading scorer and most involved offensive player he is also the most used player on that end of the floor. In fact, his usage rate since the addition of Nikola Vucevic is a team-high 31.2 percent.
There is a long list of statistical categories he leads the team in because of that featured role. With him out and the team essentially in must-win games from here on out, Billy Donovan has his hands full in creatively overcoming the loss of offensive firepower.
Defensively, which has been the Bulls kryptonite all season long, there’s a decent chance there is not much of a change for the team or there is even a slight improvement. That will depend on where the minutes go to fill the LaVine void.
Offensively, the changes will be drastic and noticeable. In a way, it will be like a whole new offensive game because of the Bulls lack of anyone capable of stepping into the type of role LaVine plays.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the first adjustment to the Bulls offense without Zach LaVine on the court.
Chicago Bulls offensive adjustments without Zach LaVine: Less Pick and Role/ Dribble penetration
A player of Zach LaVine’s caliber is going to be the focal part of any offense he is a part of. That has obviously been the case for LaVine on the Bulls this season.
LaVine’s averaging 10.9 possessions per game as a pick and roll ball handler according to NBA.com, unsurprisingly the highest figure on the team. The only other player getting over two opportunities per game as the pick and roll ball handler is Coby White, who is in that position 5.5 times per game.
LaVine ranks in the 76.2 percentile as the pick and roll ball handler, making it easy to understand why head coach Billy Donovan features him in that role offensively. It’s where he gets 10.6 points per game of his team-leading 27.5 points per game.
White will have more of these chances, while Tomas Satoransky and Denzel Valentine figure to get more chances as the ball handler in these situations as well. They are all far less effective in the role, though, and that is why there will be a decrease in the number of times the pick and roll is used.
Similarly, the team is going to be getting far less penetration in the half-court offense in general. LaVine obviously excels in that as well due to his athleticism and aggressive approach in attacking the basket.
No one on the team has the mental approach to get to the rim like LaVine or the skill set to do so as successfully. That takes a lot away from a team’s offense as getting to the rim with dribble penetration is one of the easiest ways to open up open looks for everyone on the floor.
With these advantages disappearing from the Chicago Bulls offense, there going to have to focus in on a strength and emphasize it more in order to get good looks in the half-court offense.
Chicago Bulls offensive adjustments without Zach LaVine: More Post ups/Inside touches for Nikola Vucevic
If any Bulls fans still (somehow) wonder what Nikola Vucevic brings to the team offensively, they are going to get a full display of his skillset in the coming games. Vucevic is more than capable of being the focal point of an offense and that is what Billy Donovan is going to ask of him.
Vooch is one of the most talented bigs in the game and that will be on full display with LaVine out of the lineup. While the big man has been displaying a lot of his strengths as a shooter and roll man, expect to see other areas emphasized in the near future.
Specifically, Vucevic is going to be getting more post-up opportunities now that LaVine is set to miss time. His post-ups per game only dropped by one from the Magic to the Bulls (4.6 possessions per game in Chicago).
He is more effective in the role with the Bulls so far, though. This area has now replaced LaVine pick and rolls as the easiest way for the team to get good looks and because of that, it will be a primary play used moving forward.
Vooch’s excellent passing and vision help a lot here. You can continuously go to a guy like him in the post because he will always find open shooters or cutters when he has the ball. He is not the type of post player who catches the ball and gets tunnel vision until taking an eventual shot.
Expect a high dose of inside looks for the big man and an increase in possessions where the ball reaches him down low early in the shot clock.
Chicago Bulls offensive adjustments without Zach LaVine: More ball movement
This is not a knock on Zach LaVine. It is actually a compliment and appreciation of the player he is and what he brings to the table offensively more than anything else.
With him out of the rotation, the Bulls offense needs to and will have more ball movement. There are now no Bulls players that the ball should stick in the hands of and if they want to get open looks it will be from quick and decisive passing instead of opportunities created from a guy like LaVine.
LaVine’s dribble penetration and ability to put defenses in awkward situations open up opportunities for everyone, but that is not an option now. No one can be asked or should be asked to create those same looks for their teammates, so the reality is passing will be the key to getting good looks.
Not only does smart and strong passing get players open looks but it also puts them in a position to attack the defense. In a way, it’s the team’s way of creating those dribble penetration possessions they’ll miss without LaVine.
The right pass will allow a perimeter player a chance to attack their defender and from their opportunities will come.
LaVine, on average, possesses the ball for 5.6 seconds per possession, according to NBA.com. No one else on the Bulls should be hitting that number with or without him and the only way that will be a reality is if the ball is moving quickly to the open man.